//------------------------------// // Home // Story: Mission to the Pony Planet // by ersmiller //------------------------------// Sunset remained another day in the Crystal Empire before boarding a train back to Canterlot. During the visit, she had stayed with her friends, Starlight and Cadance, as well as her brother, filling them in on the past week’s events, including what led to the new wings. So many questions were asked. Some from an excited scholar, others from an ecstatic, and possibly jealous, friend. But there was plenty of time left over to just enjoy being together and catch up. She even helped foalsit little Flurry Heart. “Alicorn foals,” Sunset more than once thought to herself while looking at the wings stuffed in her dress, “another thing to consider.” It was nice though. She gained a family member. It had been a long time since she had any. Of course her friends had been her family for years now, but being able to say brother—and not with an annoyed groan—was wonderful. Add to that how Cadance kept trying to get Flurry to say “Auntie Sunny,” and Sunset couldn’t help but smile most of the day, even when crashing into walls while trying to fly with her “niece.” She gave herself another smile and looked at the beginner’s flight books. Two chapters. That was all she had left to read in the last book, having had a much easier time concentrating with so much weight lifted from her withers. The more restful sleep certainly helped as well. She turned to her train window and took a breath seeing the castle come into view. It was time to see Celestia. No more running away. *** *** *** She arrived just in time to help Renae pack up for her return trip to Ponyville and eventually the portal. The others, except Flash and Twilight, were also returning now that their political duties were complete. She waved goodbye and faced the castle again, eyes going back to the window of her old room for a quick moment. Having asked a guard who knew her, she learned there was still half an hour before Celestia had any free time, so she made an appointment and sat in front of that imposing, white door leading to the throne room and willed her heart to stop racing. “Okay, Sunset,” she whispered to herself to not bother the guards, “you can do this … this time. There’s no need to be nervous. I won’t be arrested. She won’t take my wings or force me to remain in Equestria away from my friends. So what if I’m an alicorn now? That won’t matter once I’m in the other world, and I can only visit sparingly, so she won’t see me as a danger and the public will never know about me. “Even better,” she continued, “Celestia wouldn’t want me to be nervous around her. We’ve been so close and, even though I clearly tested her patience a lot and took our relationship for granted, I think we were friends for a lot of my time here. If only I could have kept my head out of my plot long enough to understand that back then.” She chuckled to herself. “This isn’t even the first time I’ve seen her since becoming a …,” her ears dropped, “traitor to the throne”—she brightened up again, ears perking straight up—“I already came back once and we made up during the Memory Stone incident.” Another chuckle tickled her. “Thanks, Wallflower. Blessing in disguise I suppose.” But then there was a sudden drop in her expression. “Though back then we barely talked. We made up but never chatted, never got caught up on life events, never really reconnected. That’s going to be today. That’s going to be just a few minutes from now!” Sunset stood up and began pacing again in a small, pony-length circle in front of the beautiful, sparkling door of doom. A few rotations shy of becoming dizzy she stopped and planted herself down with a triumphant hoof raised in the air. “NO!” she nearly shouted, getting a few guards looking her way. “It’s fine. It will be fine. Just be her friend. Just like old times, but the way it should have been!” She closed her eyes and smiled. Just then, the clock tower rang, signifying the end of whatever Celestia had been doing instead of her usual Day Court that day and the time Sunset’s meeting with her was scheduled for. Sunset squeaked and jumped forward, tripping onto her face, only quickly realizing she had been facing away from the door and at a blank wall. She heard the the door open behind her and the Marshal of the Court’s voice call out, “Announcing Miss Sunset Shimmer, former student”— Sunset scrambled to stand and get presentable using a collection of telekinetic winds to quickly fix her mane and tail. She turned and, with a sly smile, unfastened her dress just as the announcement finished. She galloped through, all traces of worry gone, now just happy to be with her favorite teacher again. There, standing in all her regal glory before the dais was Princess Celestia looking back at her with a warm smile growing on her face. Be her friend, Sunset ran through her mind again. “Yo, Celestia!” she cheered, opening her wings, flinging the dress away in the process, and striking a showmare’s pose she imagined the Equestrian Trixie might frequently sport. “Bam! Who’s got a horn and two shiny new wings?” She pointed to herself with her wingtips. “This mare!” Celestia seemed taken aback at the dramatic display and Sunset afforded herself just a touch of the old pride at having stunned her mentor—in a good, fun way—when she noticed Celestia had shifted to look past her. Sunset’s heart pounded, having only just now come to wonder why there had been an announcer. She turned and looked down the throne room to see easily fifty ponies all in fancy clothes, fancy for Canterlot clothes, just staring at her, or more specifically her horn and wings. “Oh horse apples.” *** *** *** “I’m so sorry!” Sunset rushed, now ushered to a secure meeting room away from the commencement party for the latest graduating class of Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. “The guard told me you had an opening in your schedule. I made an appointment and everything!” “It’s alright, Sunset,” Celestia eased her with that soothing voice Sunset could never forget. “The guard may have thought you had a presentation. Other students have done so.” “‘Presentation’ is right! I should have made sure he knew I meant an appointment in private. There’s going to be an uproar if ponies know there’s another alicorn around! It’ll be in all the papers! My name was announced! They’ll find my history, they’ll know what I did. What I tried to do.” “Twilight is attending as an alumna. The other world’s Flash Sentry is her guest. I’m sure they’ll handle the situation.” “Maybe it’ll all go down as a prank. I don’t want to cause any more trouble for you! I’ve done enough already.” “Sunset,” Celestia stroked Sunset’s mane with a hoof, “Twilight will have everything under control. I’ve given her worse tasks and this will give her more experience dealing with the nobles.” Celestia paused and seemed to consider her words. “Though I suspect she’d prefer to fight Discord again.” “Is there anything we can do to help?” “Of course there is.” Celestia smiled. “We can stay here to give her room to work, and finally catch up together.” “That’s it?” “Twilight knows where we are if she needs us. Now,” Celestia stepped back, “show me those wings.” It took a moment as Sunset thought over the situation, and her expression shifted a few times between worried and apologetic before settling on a smile when she looked up to Celestia’s face. She stood tall, gave her wings a good flap before spreading them wide, and beamed happily at her mentor. Celestia smiled down at her. She took a breath, blinking an eye before bringing a hoof to it. Sunset took a step forward. “Celestia?” “I’m so proud of you, my ever-enthusiastic student. I always knew you could do it.” Sunset’s eyes shimmered, beading up with tears. “You did?” “Always.” Celestia walked up to Sunset and wrapped one of her own wings around her student’s. Sunset leaned into the hug and let the years she spent away flow from her eyes. She lost track of time, but distinctly noticed multiple drops of moisture fall onto her before there was a knock on the door. Celestia stiffened and took a moment before soothing Sunset’s mane down, taking a step to the side and clearing her throat. “Yes? Enter please,” she said, giving a smile down at Sunset drying her own eyes. A guard opened the door and saluted. “Your Highness, Princess Twilight sent me to inform you both that ‘everything is under control’.” A motion caught Sunset’s eye. “Did your ear just twitch?” The guard looked from Celestia to Sunset, did a double-take at the new alicorn, and considered it a good idea to answer. “Yes, uh, Your H—ma’am?” Celestia smiled at the reaction. “Did you twitch your ear because that’s what Twilight’s did when she gave you that message?” ”Accuracy is important.” Sunset and Celestia traded a worried glance between them. *** *** *** It turned out Twilight did have everything under control. The students were laughing and enjoying themselves and the parents not wearing the fanciest of clothes were as well. This left only those fanciest adults looking as if somepony had dropped a dead rat on their dinner table, but that was the normal expression for many nobles anyway. The only things that stood out were the way Twilight’s mane was frazzled and, of course, her usual dance steps being mirrored by Flash and a small collection of giggling students. It seemed the dance itself was enough to command attention away from the memory of Sunset’s earlier display. Celestia and Sunset retreated from the secret alcove high above the throne room where they had observed the odd dance party and teleported back to the meeting room. “Do you often sneakily watch over Twilight like that?” Sunset asked. “Hmm,” Celestia tapped her chin as a mock display of indecision. “If I said yes, would you keep it a secret?” Sunset put a hoof over her mouth and failed to hold back a snicker that Celestia joined in on. Once that was passed, Sunset steadied herself with a breath. “So, you know what happened?” She lifted a wing. “Twilight sent you a letter?” “She did, and I couldn’t be prouder how you handled yourself. That much raw magic would have corrupted anypony.” A small smile and a blush flashed on Sunset’s face for a moment. “But I’m still not sure how I woke up with wings. I thought it was a spell that triggered the ascension.” Her bright expression soured a bit. “I actually found it in the forbidden section of the archives before I went to the other world.” “Yes, Sunset,” Celestia softly confirmed. “There is a spell, but it will fail silently when cast if the proper conditions are not met.” “So, if you had cast it on me when I … well ‘demanded’ it—“ “The spell would have failed.” Sunset dropped her head. “That would not have gone well for my ego at the time. Or my temper.” “Exactly why I refused.” After a sigh, Sunset looked back up. “What conditions does the spell need?” “Perhaps the biggest condition is that the spell must be cast specifically on a pony’s spirit or astral form, and most ponies do not have one strong enough for the spell to resonate with.” “Astral form?” Sunset considered. “Twilight told me that she got her wings after meeting with you in—“ “The astral plane. I felt it when she entered and it was then that I knew she was ready. An exceptional astral form is necessary to enter there, where the spell is most likely to work.” “And it was the feedback from completing Star Swirl’s spell that sent her there?” “In a way.” Celestia reached out and smoothed out a few errant feathers on one of Sunset’s wings. “As an alicorn, you will eventually be able to see both the strength and potential of the astral forms in other ponies. I could see Twilight’s grow stronger over time, especially after she moved to Ponyville. Once hers was strong enough, she was…” Celestia paused to consider her words. “Invited to the astral plane.” “ ‘Invited’? The astral plane passes out invitations through spontaneous equine combustion?” “I’ve never actually seen it happen myself. I've only greeted the ponies after they arrived. It did sound that way listening to Twilight’s friends giving their accounts. Sadly there were no credible witnesses of Cadance’s ‘invitation’. Luna and I, and of course Flurry Heart, were alicorns from birth.” “And me?” “Similar to Twilight according to her letter.” “So I exploded when they rainbow’d me this time and they never said anything?” Celestia giggled. “Perhaps they didn’t want to overwhelm you, thinking the wings were a big enough surprise.” “No kidding,” chuckled Sunset, looking at her wings again. “Why don’t I remember being in the astral plane?” “You were unconscious when I found you.” Celestia sighed. “And I had such a wonderful ballad ready.” Sunset reached up and felt the tiny remainder of the lump from Fluttershy’s tree branch. “Must have hit me hard to knock out even my astral form.” “That did worry me. I was not aware that could happen.” “But you cast the spell on me anyway?” “Actually, I only sent you back to the physical plane. You were already an alicorn when I found you.” “But how?” “I don’t know, but the spell isn’t the only way for a pony to become an alicorn. Luna and I were the last in a long line of native alicorns from our village. There were legends on how we came to be, but nopony really knew. Only that it was tied to ‘our strong spirits’. With how strong your astral form was at the time, it may have been spontaneous or granted by forces ponykind does not yet understand.” “It was that strong? Wait. If you can see a pony’s astral form, then you knew how strong—or weak—mine was when we met?” “It’s part of how I choose my students,” Celestia answered. “You and Twilight both had great potential from the beginning.” “What determines the strength of an astral form? Does it have to do with magical ability? I’m sure Starlight would like to know.” “Even I don’t know what factors are involved. Star Swirl was trying to study them with me, but we never got any clear answers. We do know that they have nothing to do with a pony’s magic and all pony tribes have them in equal measure.” “But if mine and Twilight’s got stronger over time does it have to do with friendship? Have you checked Pinkie?” “All of Twilight’s friends have a strong astral form. Not strong enough for the astral plane though, and I didn’t see Pinkie Pie’s as particularly stronger than the others. Fluttershy’s is the strongest among them.” “Kindness?” Sunset thought out loud. “A connection to nature or harmony? The Tree of Harmony? Is prophecy involved?” “Now you’re coming closer to what Star Swirl and I could determine.” After a thought, Celestia permitted herself to roll her eyes. “Astral forms are quite rare among the nobles. Greed and pride seem to be severe detriments.” “The Twilights said I absorbed all that magic and made it my own after the rainbow hit me and that’s when the astral plane, uh, invited me in but also that my transformation at the Friendship Games likely played a part.” “I agree, Sunset. I remember how yours had changed when you visited to research the Memory Stone. I was surprised you didn’t immediately get invited then. It was a struggle to not tell you, but I wanted to surprise you when it happened. The events this week may have simply pushed you over the line.” “This week was just a ‘push’ huh?” Sunset chuckled before looking away in thought. She hummed and tapped her chin. “I know that look,” smiled Celestia. “Somepony is looking to do another study project.” Smiling, Sunset put her hoof back down. “It would be nice to study Equestrian magic as it is in Equestria again. In the other world it’s been like starting from scratch.” “You are always welcome to continue your studies with me.” “Really?!” Sunset brightened up and beamed at her teacher, wings extending in excitement. “You’d let me do that?” “Of course.” Celestia reached a foreleg over Sunset’s shoulder. “I’d be delighted to have you back here. I still have your room set up for you.” “My room?” In a flash of Celestia’s horn, the two were teleported to a familiar hall, looking at a familiar door still sporting Sunset’s cutie mark. “I—I thought you would have cleaned it out by now.” “I would have if I hadn’t expected you to return someday.” Sunset turned a pair of watering eyes toward Celestia. “And you did,” Celestia continued. “I’m—I’m sorry it took so long,” Sunset choked while drying her eyes. “Hopefully not so long that you’ve forgotten the combination,” smiled Celestia. Sunset turned back to the door and blinked the remaining tears away before lighting her horn. A moment later there was a click as the door’s latch opened. She steadied herself and pushed it open with a hoof. The room before them was a studious one. Bed, desk, bookshelves, kitchenette, and many various awards, study materials, and projects both finished and left in progress neatly spread around. “I’ve had Squeaky Clean come up here to dust every other moon and the library books have long since been returned—I didn't want you to incur any late fees—but otherwise the room is untouched,” explained Celestia. Warrrk, came an excited, avian call. “Oh! And some creature heard you were here today.” Sunset looked up to see a fiery, red creature dive directly for her. “Philo—!“ was all she got out before being tackled. “Gah!” Warrrrrk! “Would you—get—eahhh!” Schreee! As the alicorn and phoenix wrestled around the room, Celestia calmly chuckled and headed for the kitchenette to make some tea. Two cups and a saucer were prepared on a dining table by the time Sunset flopped to the floor defeated with the phoenix chirping in victory from atop her head. “She missed you,” chuckled Celestia, sitting by the table in front of a cup. A flighty little chirp confirmed her statement. “Uguu,” groaned Sunset from the floor. “I missed you too, Philomena.” Whether it was to answer her or gloat was uncertain, but Philomena happily bounced on Sunset’s head as she tried to stand. “Alright, alright! You win!” Chirrp twe-twe-tweet, Philomena giggled while hopping to the saucer of tea. “Featherbrain,” Sunset retorted, pulling herself up to her own cup and sticking out her tongue at her assailant. Philomena just shrugged her wings in reply and dug out an amber feather that got lodged into hers. “Hay! That’s mine.” Philomena blew on the feather sending it back toward Sunset who glared as it fluttered to the table. “Pest.” Philomena blew a raspberry then lapped up some tea from the saucer. Sunset fumed for a moment before letting out a chuckle. “I really don’t know why, but I think I actually did miss you.” Wurrk? “A little.” Twit “Oh yeah? Same to you, buddy!” Sunset replied with a smile. “Wonderful!” Celestia cheered. “Philomena was so depressed after you left she almost molted early.” “Is that so?” asked Sunset, looking over just in time to catch a brief blush from the phoenix. Chuirrp! Philomena claimed proudly, tilting her head up. “Heh. Faker.” The blush returned. “I see you still know some way to sneak in my room on your own.” Philomena bobbed her head. “Philomena,” Celestia began, “Sunset and I were just discussing the possibility of her resuming her studies here.” Rceeaaly? Philomena hopped excitedly before freezing and trying to cover with a dismissive chirp. “Too late, you old bird,” Sunset laughed. “The jig is up.” Blushing again, Philomena squeaked and flew up to the ceiling and around some bookcases out of sight. Sunset gave chase but returned a moment later rolling her eyes. “Still can’t figure out how she keeps getting in and out of here.” “It’s an old castle,” Celestia chuckled. “She knows many hiding spots and passages.” “And I spent weeks one semester fortifying the walls and windows trying to keep her out.” “But now you two can be friends.” “We’ll see,” Sunset snickered. “So, about that offer,” began Celestia after a sip of tea. Sunset’s aura, having begun levitating her teacup, faltered and lowered the cup back to the table. She thought for a time. “I do want to continue my studies with you. Magic, diplomacy, even friendship—though Twilight’s taken over my lessons there—but I don’t know if I can. The portal can only be used sparingly and we don’t know how many uses we can get out of it, or if it will still repair the boundary between the worlds every thirty moons or not.” She closed her eyes. “I have to make a … a definitive choice.” “And you’ll have my support in whatever you choose,” Celestia encouraged her. Sunset pictured her apartment back in the humane world, the school there, all the new adventures, and most of all her friends and how much they meant to her. She then opened her eyes to look around her old dorm room and mentor and thought back on her life before the portal. “Princess Celestia?” she creaked, a tear forming in one of her eyes. “Yes, my little pony?” “I, I don’t think this is home anymore.” Celestia stood and walked up to Sunset, pulling her into a nuzzle with a foreleg. “I understand, Sunset, and I’ll always be here for you anytime you visit.” Sunset turned and buried her face into Celestia’s soft coat. “I’m sorry.” “Don’t be,” Celestia patted Sunset’s mane. “If this is what you need to do then I’ll be with you in your heart. And as for your studies …,” she gently pulled away and lit her horn, summoning a large textbook that flopped onto the table with a heavy thud, “I’ve commissioned another correspondence journal for us. This one also includes a number of worksheets for lessons I had yet to give you.” Sunset gasped happily and refreshed the hug. “Thank you so much, Celestia!” “You are welcome, my enthusiastic student. Though, perhaps you should also thank the royal enchanter. He really had his hooves full the past few days with these.” “I’ll be sure to stop by before I go.” Waarrk Sunset felt something land on her head after the loud, self-pronouncement of Philomena’s return. She reached up expecting to playfully swat the pesky bird only for her hoof to collide with a metallic object and send it rolling onto the table. A crown. “If you had chosen to stay,” Celestia explained. Similar to Twilight’s new crown, after returning the Element of Magic to the Tree of Harmony, but with six rounded peaks rather than Twilight’s five points and her own cutie mark in the center. “You really were going to make me a princess?” Sunset gaped at the crown, taking in its details. “After a few more diplomacy lessons,” Celestia answered. “Princess of what?” “That would have been up to you. Twilight and Cadance needed time to understand their parts as well.” “But since I’m not staying?” Ciirp? squeaked Philomena. “A royal ambassador perhaps?” Celestia suggested. “An ambassador?” “If your new world’s government ever becomes aware of us, I can’t think of any other pony whom I’d rather have representing us.” “After some more diplomacy lessons though, right?” Celestia patted the new correspondence book. “They’re already in here.” Sunset gave her a sly smile. “You knew I’d choose to go back.” An equally sly raised eyebrow greeted her. “Did I?” Wrrak! Philomena shouted and picked up Sunset’s crown with her talons. Wrrk-turp. “You don’t want me to leave?” For an answer, Philomena tossed the crown at Sunset, hooking it around her horn. “Gah!” Sunset steadied it with a hoof, then levitated it a few hooves away to get a better look. “You can at least try it on,” Celestia suggested, conjuring a mirror. Slowly, Sunset levitated the crown above her head and paused. “This isn’t magical is it?” “Not in the least. It’s just gold,” Celestia assured her. With a relieved sigh, Sunset aligned the crown and—Philomena jumped up and quickly drove it into place. “Hay!” Wrrrk Ignoring Philomena’s impatient retort, Sunset turned to the mirror. It … felt right. Not all of the crown’s peaks were visible, but a small adjustment to her manestyle would fix that. Just when her eyes began to shimmer, Philomena jumped in front of her, head bumping up into her chin. “Would you knock it off?” Raak wii “Are you trying to make me stay or go?” Cuuurp, Philomena slowly whistled, ducking her head. “Aw. You actually did miss me. Didn’t you, Pest? What, nopony else fought back against your pranks?” Philomena nodded. “Really? That’s why? You really are a pest.” Wriik?! “But at least you’re a cute one.” Philomena blew a raspberry at Sunset’s reflection in the mirror. “Sort of.” Celestia laughed at the pair. “It feels good to see you two getting along.” “Yeah,” Sunset agreed. “A lot of things feel better now that I’m not so angry and self-centered all the time. Philomena?” Churp? “I promise we’ll spend some time together before I go, uh, home.” Cheii-cuirup? “Play some pranks on Princess Luna maybe? I haven’t made her mad yet.” Waarrrkk! Philomena cheered, taking to the air and circling around Sunset. “Thought you might like that.” After a loop, Philomena flew off again to wherever her secret entry point to Sunset’s room was. Once alone, Sunset leaned in and whispered to Celestia, “Imagine her, Pinkie Pie and Discord together.” Celestia’s eyes widened. “Let’s not joke about such things, Sunset.” After enjoying the moment with a bit of laughter, Sunset turned back to the mirror and eventually removed the crown to hold it in her hooves. “So what happens to this now that I’m not staying?” “I suppose a royal ambassador would have just as much reason to wear a crown as a princess would,” suggested Celestia with a sly smile. “Is that an official title?” “It is now.” Looking at the mirror and the crown together, a question came to mind. “Celestia? Why did you show me the portal?” Celestia’s eyes softened and she drew back a bit. “Before Star Swirl disappeared into Limbo, he revealed the portal to me saying he had some projects in play with his counterpart in that world, but he never got a chance to tell me what they were.” “You think he was referring to the Sirens and Memory Stone?” “Quite possibly, but it seemed there was more to it than that. After we lost him, I began sending small expeditions through the portal every thirty moons to investigate but never found anything. That world’s Star Swirl had apparently gone missing around the same time ours had.” Celestia paused to sip her tea but Sunset noticed the teacup wobbled slightly in her aura. “A close friend of mine entered the portal and never came back. We’ve never been able to find her.” “You wanted me to join the expeditions?” Celestia nodded. “Tell me about her. I’ll find her,” Sunset perked up at the task. “Thank you, Sunset, but I’ve already contacted my own counterpart. As an adult native of that world, and one in the education system, she is better equipped for such a search.” “Oh.” Sunset’s features drooped. “But I never would have had the opportunity to ask her if not for your actions.” “Well, there’s that at least. So I suppose you don’t actually need me there anymore now that Star Swirl is back?” “Unfortunately, Star Swirl and I haven’t always seen eye-to-eye.“ Celestia sighed. “Particularly where his portals are concerned. While I’ve asked him about these projects, I’m not convinced he’s telling me the whole truth.” “Star Swirl—“ “Isn’t always the easiest pony to get along with. I may be the ruler of Equestria, but I was also his student. I still find it difficult getting information out of him.” “So, you don’t know what all these ‘projects’ may be?” “He assured me that everything is safe, but you’ve already had to face multiple incidents. I don’t know if they are related. You and your friends would be best to carefully search out anything else from Equestria that’s been in that world longer than you have.” Sunset thought that over. “The image!” “Image?” “The image I saw in the portal when you first showed it to me. I saw myself as an alicorn complete with a crown that looked like yours. After the Fall Formal I convinced myself it had been just my imagination or ambition getting the best of me, but was it actually real? Did something show me that image?” “That was my fear as well.” “And why you tried to keep me away from it after that.” “Yes.” “Well, now I’m definitely going back,” Sunset announced, looking at her new crown. “That pony I saw was what the old me would have turned into if not for Twilight and our friends. I remember her face. She was evil. If there’s any chance something created that image, then I have to find it and …. Well,” she paused, “ideally, reform and make friends with it, or failing that, kick its plot!” “Thank you, Sunset,” Celestia smiled. “I hope I am just worrying too much, but I’m glad I’ll have you there just in case.” “You can count on me.” “I know I can.” Celestia and Sunset smiled at each other, quietly reliving memories until Celestia perked her head up suddenly. Sunset watched a moment before a realization made her think to read a clock standing by a wall. She gasped excitedly. Seeing the excited face, Celestia chuckled, “Your balcony?” Sunset nodded and the pair left for the room’s balcony to see the sun low in the sky. Standing beside her mentor, Sunset watched Celestia’s horn glow brightly as she lifted into the air. Out in the sky, the sun began to speed toward the horizon and finally set below, turning the sky dark. She knew elsewhere in the castle, likely on another balcony, Princess Luna was doing the same as the stars began to shine and the moon rose to take the place of the sun. It was only when Celestia’s hooves touched back down that Sunset felt the tears on her cheeks. Celestia’s expression grew concerned but Sunset was quick to explain. “I’ve missed that so much. Every time, since the very first day I left, I couldn’t help but think of you when the sun set.” Wordlessly, Celestia pulled Sunset into another hug. Eventually, Celestia smirked and asked, “But not when the sun rises?” Sunset broke out in laughter. “You know I rarely ever get up that early.” “Yes, I remember now,” Celestia playfully mocked. “Your enthusiasm does have its limits in the mornings.” “On the few sunrises I’ve seen in the other world, yes, I thought of you then too. And speaking of. If it’s alright, I’d like to stay the night and watch you raise the sun tomorrow.” “You will always be welcome to do so, Sunset. But it’ll be on you to wake up in time,” Celestia chided playfully. “I’m sure The Pest won’t let me oversleep.” “And speaking of her,” Celestia began, pulling back from the hug. “A warning. If you and Philomena go through with pranking my sister, be sure it’s after she’s had her coffee. Never before.” Giggling, Sunset started back inside. “I’ll remember that. I already know her counterpart is not someone to mess with … too much.” “Sounds like a story I’d love to hear.” “If you have time, I’d love to trade tales from the past few years.” “I made sure to leave plenty of openings in my schedule for the next few days when word reached me you were here." Celestia raised her wings and adopted an excited smirk. "We could even go for a flight. See if your new wings can outpace the guards.” Flexing her wings, Sunset returned the smile. "I may need some pointers, but I'm ready for the challenge." Back at their teacups, Sunset paused for a moment and her expression turned serious. “But I suppose there’s one more thing we ought to talk about first.” “Yes, Sunset?” Sunset let out a groan. “Dad.” Celestia stiffened before nodding. “Have you already talked with the rest of your family?” “Yes. Sunburst and—" she smiled, “—even Cadance.” Celestia beamed. “And things went well with them?” “Yes, with both.” “I’m so glad to hear that.” “But now I have to decide if I will talk to him before I head back home and, despite what Sunburst and Starlight told me, I just can’t see how that could end up being a good idea.” “You of all ponies know that ponies change.” “Yes, but has he? Has he really?” Celestia nodded and gave a kind smile. “I haven’t had much opportunity to speak with him lately, but there is a clear difference.” “Are we talking astral forms again?” Celestia chuckled, “There’s been a change to that too, though not much. I was referring to policy adjustments he’s proposed lately and a general improvement in personality.” “First time for everything it seems,” Sunset mumbled. “Sunset, I cannot tell you if talking to your father is a good thing to do or not, but perhaps you should ask yourself if it’s—“ “The right thing to do,” Sunset groaned, flopping her muzzle onto the table. “I knew you’d say that!” “Not what you wanted to hear?” “No,” came Sunset’s muffled reply. “But what you needed to hear?” “Yes,” Sunset sighed into the table. “I’ll stop by before I head back to Ponyville.” Celestia finished her tea with a smile. “And Sunset?” Sunset grunted in reply. “Thank you for not calling me by my title.” Sunset sat up and looked over with a smile. “I was thinking you’d want me to treat you as a friend now that—” she looked to her wings. “And I will always be your friend.” “Something I never really understood before, but I’ll never forget that now.” Wraaaakk A sudden avian weight crashed down on Sunset’s head. “You again?!” she grunted. Philomena tittered and jumped off Sunset’s head only to grab her tail instead. “What? Hay!” Philomena tugged Sunset’s tail toward the door, pulling the rest of the pony along. Rarr-Waa, she chirped between tugs. “You want to prank her now?” Wraaak “Has she had her coffee yet?” Raaak “Was that a yes?” Raaaak “That better be a yes,” Celestia giggled as her once again student was dragged out of the room.